Adjustable scaffold for ceiling board



Aug. 5, 1958. G. JoHNsoN 2,846,085

ADJUSTABLE SCAF'FOLD FOR CEILING BOARD Filed March 29, 195.7 2 sheets-'sheet 1 u Af/ Z6 F c7- 1 y ug- 5, 1958 G. J. 'JoHNsoN ADJUSTABLE SCAFFOLD FOR CEILING BOARD Filed man 29, 1957 2 Shears-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. zgJ/iaI/Jfam United Std My invention relates to adjustable scafolds for ceiling board and the like and has for its primary object the provision of novel means whereby a large and cumbersome panel of ceiling board may be lifted off of the floor and elevated into a desired position in engagement with the joists or the like of a room by a single person, for nailing and the like.

A further object `of my invention is the provision of a device of the class above described which has a minimum of parts, but which is rugged and durable in construction.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described in which the parts may be readily separated from each other for the purpose of storage and shipment.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class above described including a novel base comprising a pair of generally parallel rollerequipped cradle elements, a lifting frame pivotally secured to said base for swinging movements of its upstanding free end from a position overlying said base and resting thereon to a position in engagement with the floor at one side of said base, said lifting frame comprising a pair of spaced extensible and retractable legs, means for positively locking said legs in their extended positions, and a generally rectangular panel mounting frame rigidly secured to and extending between the upper ends of said legs and lying in a plane at substantially right angles to said legs, said panel mounting frame including generally parallel end frame members centrally secured one each to the extended upper end of one of said legs, and a panel engaging element carried by said panel mounting frame and movable therein from an operative position projecting laterally outwardly from the plane thereof and adjacent one side thereof to an inoperative position below the plane of a panel mounted thereon.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described in which said panel edge engaging element comprises a pair of arms pivotally secured one each to one end frame member for swinging movements of the free ends thereof from operative positions wherein said arms are in alignment with the plane of said panel mounting frame and form a lateral extension thereof to inoperative positions wherein said arms are angularly disposed with respect to the plane of said panel mounting frame, and means connecting the free ends of said arms, said means including an angularly disposed elongated panel edge engaging lip.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device cf the class immediately above described in which means is provided for positively locking said arms in their operative positions and in which means is provided for positively locking the lifting frame in its upstanding position overlying said base.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of my novel structure illustrating its use in lifting a ceiling panel, some parts being broken away and some parts shown in sections;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal atent l j,

. ice

section as seen substantially from the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section as seen substantially from the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in end elevation, some parts being broken away and some parts shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a further enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4. y

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, I

provide a pair of spaced generally parallel cradle elements identified in their entirety by the numeral 1, each of which comprises an opposed base-forming member 2 formed from angle irons, the horizontal portions thereof being identified by the numeral 3, the upstanding side members by the numeral 4, and the roller-equipped casters upon which each is mounted, by the numeral y5. Mounted for pivotal swinging movements adjacent common end portions of said roller-equipped base-forming members 2, as indicated at 6, are feet 7, which, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, are substantially coextensive in length with the base-forming members 2. Also as there shown, the feet 7 are formed from angle iron and are nestingly received within and rest upon the angular baseforming members 2 when swung on the pivots 6 in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4. t

Rigidly secured, as by welding, to the intermediate portion of the feet 7, and normally projecting upwardly therefrom at right angles thereto, are extensible and retractable legs, identified in their entirety by the numeral 8. Legs 8 comprise inner and outer telescoping leg members 9 and 10 respectively, one each of the former of which are secured to one of the feet 7. The vouter leg sections 10 are vertically slideable upon the inner leg sections 9 as indicated by the dotted line position of Fig. l. As shown particularly in Figs. l and 5, an elongated rigid connector bar 11 extends between and is -rigidly connected to the lower end portions of the innerleg members 9 and the intermediate portions of the feet 7. To positively lock the feet 7 to the base-forming members 2 while same are in the nesting full line position of Fig.4, I provide same with alignable apertures 12 and 13 respectively, which apertures are located on adjacent ends opposite the pivot 6 and which are adapted to receive a suitable locking pin, not shown.

Referring particularly to Fig. 6, it will be noted that the .upper ends of the inner leg members 9 terminate below the upper ends of the outer leg members `10, even when said leg members are in their retracted positions, whereby to define sockets 14 for the reception `of telescoping supplementary leg members 15. Note Vthat when leg members 9, 10 are in their retracted position, the upper end portion 16 of the supplementary leg member 15 projects upwardly of the extreme upper ends of the outer legs 10. The function of the supplementary leg member 15 will hereinafter be explained in detail.

Rigidly secured to the upwardly projecting end 16 of the supplementary leg members 15, and extending therebetween, is a rectangular -panel mounting frame, identied in its entirety by the numeral 17. Panel mounting frame 17 comprises parallel end frame members 18 and parallel side-forming members 19. Note that preferably and as shown, the supplementary leg members 15 are connected to the intermediate portions of the end frame members 18. Pivotally secured one each to the `outer surface of one of the end frame members 18 on common axes, as indicated at 2t), are arms 21. As shown in Fig. 4, the arms Z1 are mounted for swinging movements from the full line position wherein they are in alignment wtih the plane of the panel mounting frame 17 land form lateral extensions thereof, yto the dotted line positions wherein they are angularly disposed with respect to the plane of the panel mounting frame 17. EX- tending between the free outer ends of the arms 21 and rigidly secured thereto, is an angle iron 22, one portion of which defines a panel edge engaging lip 22', the purpose of which will hereinafter be explained. Note that the end frame members 1S and the arms 21 are respectively provided with alignable openings 23 and 24 for the reception of a locking pin when the arms 2l are swung to their full line operative position of Fig. 4. lt will also be noted that when the locking pin is removed from the aligned apertures 23, 2d, that the arms fall to the dotted line position whereby to remove the panel edge engaging lip 22 from the plane of a panel X mounted upon the panel mounting frame 17.

Preferably and as shown particularly in Figs. l and 6, the central portions of the end frame members i8 are formed to provide sockets 25 for the telescopic snug reception of supplementary supporting: arms 26, to be used hen desired on unusually large ceiling-forming panels For the purpose of imparting vertical lifting movements to the outer leg members lil and the panel mounting frame 17 carried thereby, I provide a pair of opposed levers 27 one end of each of which is pivotally secured to a lower end portion of one of said outer leg members 10, as indicated at 28. Pivotally secured adjacent one of their ends to the connector bar ll, adjacent a cooperating leg S, as indicated at 29, and having their opposite end portions pivotally secured to the intermediate portion of one of said levers 27, as indicated at 30, are arms 31. Preferably and as shown, both the upper ends of the arms 31 and the intermediate portions of t'ne levers 27 are provided with longitudinally spaced pivot apertures to vary the degree of leverage and the extent of lifting movements of the levers 27, as desired.

Rigidly mounted on the central portion of the connector bar l1 and projecting upwardly therefrom is a latch element 32 comprising a pair of converging angle irons 33 and 34, the opposite side edges of which are formed to provide latch detents 3S and 36 respectively for selective engagement of the extended free ends 28' of the levers 27, when same have been depressed whereby to elevate the panel mounting frame 17 and the panel X carried thereby into snug engagement with the ceilingforming joists Y of a given room.

When it is desired to elevate a ceiling-forming panel X into engagement with the joists and lof a given ceiling, the lifting frame, comprising the elements 7, 8, 11, and the panel mounting frame 17 carried thereby, are swung on the pivots 6 to the dotted line position of Fig. 4. Note that the arms 21 have been locked in their frame extending positions by inserting a locking pin through the aligned apertures 23, 24. The operator then places the panel X in a vertical position with the lower edge thereof in engagement with the lip 2.2. While holding the panel X in this position, the operator raises legs 8 to the full line position as indicated by the arrows, thereafter passing a locking pin through the aligned apertures 12, 13. Finally, lowering movements of the opposed free ends 28 of the levers 27 are imparted thereto to raise the ceiling-forming panel X into engagement with the joists Y. Said levers 27 are then caused to engage a selected one of the detents 35, 36 carried respectively by the latch-forming converging angle irons 33, 34. Note, with respect to Figs. l and 2, that the lever 27 on the right is adapted to engage the detents 3S carried by the angle iron 33, whereas the lever Z7 on the left is adapted to engage the detents 36 carried by the angle iron 34. The supplementary supporting arms 26 may be inserted into their receiving sockets 25 if desired, depending upon the size of and the extent of support required by the given panel X.

It will be noted particularly with reference to Figs. t, 4 and 6, that the supplementary leg member l5 is provided with longitudinally spaced apertures 37 alignable with the aperture 33 in the upper end portion of the outer leg member lt) for the reception of a locking pin 39. Where unusually high ceilings are found, additional height may be imparted to the legs 8 in this manner, totally independent of the adjustability provided by the longitudinally spaced apertures in the upper portions of the arms 3l and intermediate portion of the levers 27.

For the purpose of storage or transportation, it should be obvious that my novel structure may be readily disassembled by separating all parts not permanently welded together.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects and while I have shown a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that same is capable of modification without departure from the sco 2e and spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a device of the class described, a mobile base, a lifting frame pivotally secured to said base for swinging movements of its upstanding free end from a position overlying said base to a position in engagement with the floor at one side lof said base, said lifting frame comprising a pair of spaced extensible and retractable legs, rst means for positively locking said legs in their extended positions, and a generally rectangular panel mounting frame rigidly secured to and extending between the upper ends of said legs and lying in a plane at substantially right angles to said legs, said panel mounting frame including generally parallel end frame members centrally secured one each to the extended upper end of one of said legs, a pair of arms pivotally secured one each to one end frame member for swinging movements of their free ends from operative positions wherein said arms are in alignment with the plane of said panel mounting frame to inoperative positions wherein said arms are angularly disposed with respect to the plane of said panel mounting frame, and second means connecting the free ends of said arms, said second means including an angularly disposed elongated panel edge engaging lip, said mobile base including a pair `of spaced generally parallel roller-equipped cradle elements and in which said lifting frame incluudes a pair of feet one each pivotally secured at one end to an end portion of one of said cradle elements, an elongated connector bar extending between and rigidly connected to the intermediate portions of said feet and the lower end portions of said legs, said extensible and retractable legs comprising telescoping inner and outer leg members, one of said leg members being longitudinally slideable with respect to the other thereof, said first means comprising a pair of opposed levers one each pivotally secured to the lower end portion of one of the longitudinally slideable leg members, a pair of braces one each pivotally secured at one end to opposite end portions of said connector bar and pivotally secured at their other ends one each to the intermediate portion of one of said levers, and an upstanding latch element mounted on the intermediate portion of said connector bar and having vertically spaced latch detents on opposite sides for selective engagement one each with the extended free ends of one of said levers upon leg extending movements being imparted to said levers.

2. The structure defined in claim l in which said latch element comprises a pair of upwardly converging angle irons lying in substantially the same vertical plane as said leg and connector members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,725,329 Blanford Aug. 20, 1929 2,465,206 Davis Mar. 22, 1949 2,472,887 Core June 14, 1949 2,490,166 Arnould Dec. 6, 1949 

